Friday, July 20, 2012

Out to grass...

This week sees the end of my teaching career, after thirty-eight years.  I marked my last set of essays, taught my last class - hard to believe, but true.



Among other lovely things, my colleagues gave me this framed collage of book-covers: some of the many texts I have taught through these years.  No "Of Mice and Men", which I must have taught at least twenty times.  At the bottom, they have written best wishes to me in my retirement, but these are a little personal to share.  I was very touched.

All these books - and it has certainly been one of the joys of my job to be able to share these with groups.  But it is the young people who stay with you - those with natural charm and those without, many with terribly disordered lives. Their stories are unforgettable.


Meanwhile, on the knitting front, I have completed this cowl, in Manos del Uruguay Silk Blend.  In fact, I have knitted it twice as the first time I twisted the stiches .  I know that some cowls are made that way, but I wasn't convinced, so I took it out and checked more carefully the second time.  It certainly feels lovely and is a glorious blend of colours.

8 comments:

Mary Lou said...

Best wishes in the next chapter!

kristieinbc said...

It must feel exciting and a little bit scary to be retiring. Well done on your time spent teaching so many children over the years!

Robin said...

Thank you for being a teacher. We all benefit when good teachers share their gifts and skills with their students. Your students aren't the only ones who enjoy the impact of your teaching. Everyone who connects with them in the future is better off because you have helped teach them to think and reason.

Raveller said...

Congratulations! I am terrifically envious. Think of what you can do now!

colleen said...

Oh, I do so hope you have happy days to come. I've thought a lot about the impact of stopping work - easier when you have had some time to plan, less so perhaps if it comes rather out of the blue. Enjoy!

Anonymous said...

Just catching up with some blog-reading!! Enjoy your retirement - Malcolm now wonders how he ever had time to work, as his days are so full!! (I've been a full time housewife for years, so I haven't really retired!)

SmitoniusAndSonata said...

It probably won't really kick in till term begins in September ... then , when everyone goes back to school and leaves us new retirees behind , it will be very odd !
Love your collage .... a lovely leaving present .

Jane and Paddy said...

hello - I haven't been into the blog for ages - I am sure you will enjoy the change of life and pace.I missed the students and my colleagues, but loved being able to have long stretches of time to do something. Yet, I still struggle without the framework of the timetable - and i finished 17 years ago!